Battle of Vindobona

The Battle of Vindobona (180 AD) was the final battle of Marcus Aurelius' ten-year campaign against the Marcomanni tribe, taking place at the woods near present-day Vienna, Austria.

Background
At the height of its power the Roman Empire was vast, stretching from the deserts of Africa to the borders of northern England. Over one quarter of the world's population lived and died under the Caesars. In the winter of 180 AD, Emperor Marcus Aurelius' twelve-year campaign against the barbarian tribes in Germania was drawing to an end. Just one final stronghold stood in the way of Roman victory and the promise of peace throughout the empire.

Maximus Decimus Meridius took personal command of the Roman forces, with Emperor Marcus Aurelius observing as a cloaked figure from behind the troops. The emperor sent out an envoy to meet with the barbarians, but after two hours of silence, he rode back on his horse without a head. Soon, barbarians marched through the woods, and their chief threw his head at the Romans. Maximus decided to give battle, knowing that the Germanic warriors would not surrender.

Battle
Maximus ordered for the catapults and ballistae to fire at the Germanic warriors, with the catapults firing molten rock. The Roman archers also fired flame-tipped arrows at the Marcomanni tribesmen, and the Roman cavalry (led by Maximus himself) charged the warriors. The Romans and barbarians hacked at each other, and the barbarian chief was slain in battle. Maximus was in the thick of the fighting, as was his legate Quintus. The Romans were victorious, slaying thousands of barbarians and forcing the rest to submit to the Roman Empire. However, Maximus lost 2,000 men, and 3,000 more were cleaved or wounded in the battle.

Aftermath
Although the battle was a great victory, Marcus Aurelius believed that they had conquered nothing. He asked for his trusted general Maximus to become protector of Rome upon his death and to restore the Senate, making Rome a republic again. Soon after, Marcus Aurelius' son Commodus arrived and announced that he would sacrifice 150 bulls to celebrate the victory. Marcus Aurelius told him to celebrate Maximus instead, and as the emperor and Maximus walked past their troops, Maximus' soldiers cheered for him.